UEFA Champions League 2024/2025 – Round of 16 (First Leg)

4 March 2025

Real Madrid – Atletico de Madrid
Referee: Clément Turpin FRA (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Nicolas Danos FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Benjamin Pages FRA
Fourth Official: Mathieu Vernice FRA
VAR: Jérôme Brisard FRA
AVAR: Willy Delajod FRA
Referee Observer: Leslie Irvine NIR

Club Brugge – Aston Villa
Referee: Joao Pinheiro POR
Assistant Referee 1: Bruno Jesus POR
Assistant Referee 2: Luciano Maia POR
Fourth Official: Joao Gonçalves POR
VAR: Tiago Martins POR
AVAR: Pol van Boekel NED
Referee Observer: Roberto Rosetti ITA

PSV Eindhoven – Arsenal FC
Referee: Jesús Gil Manzano ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Diego Barbero Sevilla ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Ángel Nevado Rodriguez ESP
Fourth Official: Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez ESP
VAR: Carlos Del Cerro Grande ESP
AVAR: Christian Dingert GER
Referee Observer: Terje Hauge NOR

Borussia Dortmund – LOSC Lille
Referee: José Sánchez Martinez ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Raúl Cabanero Martinez ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Inigo Prieto Lopez ESP
Fourth Official: Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz ESP
VAR: Juan Martínez Munuera ESP
AVAR: Jarred Gillett ENG 

Referee Observer: Vlado Svilokos CRO

Laws of the Game 2025/26 Changes

The International Football Association Board (The IFAB) has approved several changes to the Laws of the Game for 2025/26. After trials have shown a major positive impact where goalkeepers have been holding onto the ball for too long, The IFAB has unanimously decided to amend Law 12.2 (Indirect free kick). The amendment means that if a goalkeeper holds the ball for longer than eight seconds (with the referee using a visual five-second countdown), the referee will award a corner kick to the opposing team (rather than the current indirect free kick for more than six seconds).

In relation to Law 3.10 (Team captain), guidelines have been introduced into the Laws for any competitions wishing to apply the principle of only the captain approaching the referee in specific situations, which was successfully implemented in several competitions last year. The IFAB agreed that stronger cooperation and communication between captains and referees, who often face verbal and/or physical dissent when making decisions, can help instill higher levels of fairness and mutual respect, both of which are core values of the game. The AGM participants emphasised that competition organisers, players and match officials should work collaboratively to adhere to these guidelines. Furthermore, the next edition of the Laws of the Game, which will come into effect on 1 July 2025, will feature the following amendments:

- Law 8.2 (Dropped ball): If the ball is outside the penalty area when play is stopped, it is dropped for the team that had or would have gained possession if this is clear to the referee; otherwise, it is dropped for the team that last touched it. The ball is dropped at its position when play was stopped.

- Law 9.2 (Ball in play): An indirect free kick with no disciplinary sanction will be awarded if a team official, substitute, substituted or sent-off player or player who is temporarily off the field of play touches the ball as it is leaving the field of play and there was no intention to interfere unfairly.

- Video assistant referee (VAR) protocol: Competitions now have the option for the referee to make an announcement after a VAR review or lengthy VAR check.

- Practical guidelines for match officials: As the VAR can monitor goal/no goal decisions and goalkeeper encroachment, the assistant referee should be positioned in line with the penalty mark, which is the offside line.

Following positive feedback from competitions in which referees were permitted to wear body cameras in a limited number of top-level matches so that the footage could be deployed for training and education purposes, The IFAB supported FIFA’s undertaking to test body cameras worn by match officials in FIFA competitions to identify possible future use and develop quality and safety standards. FIFA confirmed its intention to implement body cameras at the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup as part of the live match transmission. It was agreed that the successful use of body cameras worn by referees at grassroots level in England should be further tested and promoted given its positive impact on player behaviour. The IFAB also decided to pro-actively find competitions to conduct additional offside trials with the objectives of fostering attacking football and encouraging goal-scoring opportunities while maintaining the sport’s attractiveness. FIFA will make such trials at some upcoming FIFA competitions. FIFA also informed The IFAB about the trial with Football Video Support, a cost-effective system that requires a very small number of cameras and was successfully tested at several FIFA competitions in 2024. Given the positive results to date, it was agreed to extend the trials to more competitions.

Source: IFAB

CONMEBOL Libertadores 2025 – Third Round (First Leg)

4-6 March 2025

Deportes Iquique – Alianza Lima
Referee: Flavio Souza BRA (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Guilherme Camilo BRA
Assistant Referee 2: Neuza Back BRA
Fourth Official: Rodrigo Pereira BRA
VAR: Rodolpho Toski BRA
AVAR: Pablo Gonçalves BRA
Referee Assessor: Carlos Ulloa CHI
VAR Supervisor: Roberto Silvera URU

Melgar – Cerro Porteno
Referee: Piero Maza CHI
Assistant Referee 1: Claudio Urrutia CHI
Assistant Referee 2: Juan Serrano CHI
Fourth Official: Felipe Gonzalez CHI
VAR: Juan Lara CHI
AVAR: Mathias Riquelme CHI
Referee Assessor: Cesar Mongrut PER
VAR Supervisor: Pericles Cortez BRA

Barcelona – Corinthians
Referee: Dario Herrera ARG
Assistant Referee 1: Gabriel Chade ARG
Assistant Referee 2: Maximiliano Del Yesso ARG
Fourth Official: Leandro Rey ARG
VAR: Silvio Trucco ARG
AVAR: Hernan Mastrangelo ARG
Referee Assessor: Jose Lara ECU
VAR Supervisor: Patricio Polic CHI

Boston River – Bahia
Referee: Juan Benitez PAR
Assistant Referee 1: Eduardo Cardozo PAR
Assistant Referee 2: Milciades Saldivar PAR
Fourth Official: Jose Mendez PAR
VAR: Ulises Mereles PAR
AVAR: Eduardo Britos PAR
Referee Assessor: Juan Cardellino URU
VAR Supervisor: Victor Carrillo PER

CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2025 – First Round

4-6 March 2025

Universidad Catolica – Palestino
Referee: Yael Falcon ARG (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Facundo Rodriguez ARG
Assistant Referee 2: Jose Savorani ARG
Fourth Official: Sebastian Martinez ARG
VAR: Hector Paletta ARG
AVAR: Salome Di Iorio ARG
Referee Assessor: Christian Schiemann CHI
VAR Supervisor: Emerson de Carvalho BRA

Universitario – Nacional Potosi
Referee: Augusto Aragon ECU
Assistant Referee 1: Edison Vasquez ECU
Assistant Referee 2: Dennys Guerrero ECU
Fourth Official: Yerson Zambrano ECU
VAR: Franklin Congo ECU
AVAR: Byron Romero ECU
Referee Assessor: Pedro Saucedo BOL
VAR Supervisor: Hernan Maidana ARG

Deportivo Tarma – Cienciano
Referee: Derlis Lopez PAR
Assistant Referee 1: Jose Villagra PAR
Assistant Referee 2: Nancy Fernandez PAR
Fourth Official: Derlis Benitez PAR
VAR: Fernando Lopez PAR
AVAR: Zulma Quinonez PAR
Referee Assessor: Ana Perez PER
VAR Supervisor: Oswaldo Segura ECU

Sportivo Luqueno – Sportivo Ameliano
Referee: Cristian Garay CHI
Assistant Referee 1: Jose Retamal CHI
Assistant Referee 2: Alejandro Molina CHI
Fourth Official: Francisco Gilabert CHI
VAR: Rodrigo Carvajal CHI
AVAR: Edson Cisternas CHI
Referee Assessor: Manuel Bernal PAR
VAR Supervisor: Carlos Pastorino URU

Aurora – GV San Jose
Referee: Jose Cabero CHI
Assistant Referee 1: Miguel Rocha CHI
Assistant Referee 2: Leslie Vasquez CHI
Fourth Official: Dione Rissios CHI
VAR: Miguel Araos CHI
AVAR: Benjamin Saravia CHI
Referee Assessor: Juan Lugones BOL
VAR Supervisor: Hernan Maidana ARG

Academia Puerto Cabello – Metropolitanos
Referee: Carlos Benitez PAR
Assistant Referee 1: Roberto Canete PAR
Assistant Referee 2: Jose Cuevas PAR
Fourth Official: David Ojeda PAR
VAR: Mario Diaz de Vivar PAR
AVAR: Luis Onieva PAR
Referee Assessor: Jairo Romero VEN
VAR Supervisor: Wilson Lamouroux COL

Union Espanola – Everton
Referee: Paulo Zanovelli BRA
Assistant Referee 1: Nailton Sousa BRA
Assistant Referee 2: Luanderson Lima BRA
Fourth Official: Matheus Candançan BRA
VAR: Daiane Muniz BRA
AVAR: Rodrigo Nunes BRA
Referee Assessor: Julio Bascunan CHI
VAR Supervisor: Wilson Avila ECU

Racing – Montevideo Wanderers
Referee: Roberto Perez PER
Assistant Referee 1: Jesus Sanchez PER
Assistant Referee 2: Stephen Atoche PER
Fourth Official: Edwin Ordonez PER 🇵🇪
VAR: Diego Haro PER
AVAR: Michael Espinoza PER
Referee Assessor: Marcelo de Leon URU
VAR Supervisor: Angel Sanchez ARG

Once Caldas – Millonarios
Referee: Andres Matonte URU
Assistant Referee 1: Horacio Ferreiro URU
Assistant Referee 2: Agustin Berisso URU
Fourth Official: Hernan Heras URU
VAR: Jonathan Fuentes URU
AVAR: Richard Trinidad URU
Referee Assessor: Wilmar Navarro COL
VAR Supervisor: Cesar Escano PER

Mushuc Runa – Orense
Referee: Gery Vargas BOL
Assistant Referee 1: Jose Antelo BOL
Assistant Referee 2: Edwar Saavedra BOL
Fourth Official: Javier Revollo BOL
VAR: Wilfredo Campos BOL
AVAR: Jorge Justiniano BOL
Referee Assessor: Sandra Zambrano ECU
VAR Supervisor: Rodney Aquino PAR

Guarani – 2 de Mayo
Referee: Gustavo Tejera URU
Assistant Referee 1: Pablo Llarena URU
Assistant Referee 2: Mathias Muniz URU
Fourth Official: Anahi Fernandez URU
VAR: Andres Cunha URU
AVAR: Santiago Fernandez URU
Referee Assessor: Juan Zorrilla PAR
VAR Supervisor: Carlos Pastorino URU

Cerro Largo – Danubio
Referee: Alexis Herrera VEN
Assistant Referee 1: Antoni Garcia VEN
Assistant Referee 2: Migdalia Rodriguez VEN
Fourth Official: Emikar Calderas VEN
VAR: Yorman Delgado VEN
AVAR: Jorge Urrego VEN
Referee Assessor: Fernando Falce URU
VAR Supervisor: Jorge Antequera BOL

Junior – America de Cali
Referee: Wilton Sampaio BRA
Assistant Referee 1: Rodrigo Correa BRA
Assistant Referee 2: Bruno Boschilia BRA
Fourth Official: Edina Alves BRA
VAR: Daniel Nobre BRA
AVAR: Charly Straub BRA
Referee Assessor: Abraham Gonzalez COL
VAR Supervisor: Claudio Rios CHI

Atletico Grau – Cusco
Referee: Bryan Loyaza ECU
Assistant Referee 1: Ricardo Baren ECU
Assistant Referee 2: David Vacacela ECU
Fourth Official: Alex Cajas ECU
VAR: Gabriel Gonzalez ECU
AVAR: Roddy Zambrano ECU
Referee Assessor: Henry Gambetta PER
VAR Supervisor: Oswaldo Segura ECU

Deportivo La Guaira – Caracas
Referee: Carlos Betancur COL
Assistant Referee 1: John Leon COL
Assistant Referee 2: Maira Sanchez COL
Fourth Official: John Ospina COL
VAR: Nicolas Gallo COL
AVAR: Jenny Arias COL
Referee Assessor: Candelario Andarcia VEN
VAR Supervisor: Wilson Lamouroux COL

Universidad Catolica – Aucas
Referee: Kevin Ortega PER
Assistant Referee 1: Michael Orue PER
Assistant Referee 2: Alberth Alarcon PER
Fourth Official: Daniel Ureta PER
VAR: Joel Alarcon PER
AVAR: Coty Carrera PER
Referee Assessor: Juan Corozo ECU
VAR Supervisor: Sebastian Restrepo COL

FIFA World Cup 2026 – Candidate Referees Seminar (CONMEBOL & CONCACAF)

Buenos Aires (Argentina), 24-28 February 2025

CONMEBOL
1. Yael Falcon (ARG, 1988)
2. Dario Herrera (ARG, 1985)
3. Facundo Tello (ARG, 1982)
4. Ivo Mendez (BOL, 1991)
5. Ramon Abatti (BRA, 1989)
6. Raphael Claus (BRA, 1979)
7. Wilton Sampaio (BRA, 1981)
8. Cristian Garay (CHI, 1989)
9. Piero Maza (CHI, 1984)
10. John Ospina (COL, 1992)
11. Andres Rojas (COL, 1984)
12. Augusto Aragon (ECU, 1986)
13. Juan Benitez (PAR, 1984)
14. Kevin Ortega (PER, 1992)
15. Roberto Perez (PER, 1991)
16. Andres Matonte (URU, 1988)
17. Gustavo Tejera (URU, 1988)
18. Alexis Herrera (VEN, 1989)

CONCACAF
1. Drew Fischer (CAN, 1980)
2. Juan Calderon (CRC, 1987)
3. Ivan Barton (SLV, 1991)
4. Mario Escobar (GUA, 1986)
5. Walter Lopez (GUA, 1980)
6. Said Martinez (HON, 1991)
7. Oshane Nation (JAM, 1991)
8. Cesar Ramos (MEX, 1983)
9. Marco Ortiz (MEX, 1988)
10. Katia Garcia (MEX, 1992)
11. Ismail Elfath (USA, 1982)
12. Tori Penso (USA, 1986)
...
13. Keylor Herrera (CRC, 1993)*
14. Kwinsi Williams (TRI, 1990)*
15. Joseph Dickerson (USA, 1987)*

*Referee candidates for 2025 FIFA competitions